India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover following the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's chances of reaching the decider of this season too.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
